Despite significant cultural attention on the phenomenon of school shootings, one of the most predictive dimensions of these tragedies is under-analyzed: gender. Men commit 98% of mass shootings, but robust discussion and research on this relationship is lacking. This dissertation investigates the relationship between masculinity and gun violence…

This comparative quantitative survey design study examined sorority and fraternity members at a regional public institution in the Northeastern United States to determine if there were statistically significant differences between sorority and fraternity member perception of the prevalence of campus sexual misconduct; understanding of the…

Sexual assault is a deeply rooted issue on American college campuses. The purpose of this study was to examine the systems that enable a culture of sexual assault and then enact an action step that strengthened the institutional strategies for preventing these incidents on campus. This qualitative action research study took place at a mid-sized…

Sexual violence on college campuses remains underreported. Individuals who experience sexual violence face significant barriers to reporting those incidents to formal resources. As a result of these barriers, students can face difficulties getting access to support and resources they may need to persist at school. Pending federal regulations make…

This dissertation offers an ethnographic exploration of higher education sexual violence prevention initiatives through the perspectives of professional staff whose mission is to counter what many call a pandemic of sexual violence. Central to my examination are the emic theories and language ideologies underlying prevention professionals'…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine student perceptions about Title IX prevention and protection programs designed to prevent and protect students from on-campus sexual assault, sexual violence, and rape. The problem addressed students' lack of knowledge about Title IX programs and their vulnerability to sexual assaults,…

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) have been federally mandated to prevent and respond to reports of sexual violence on campus via Title IX for over 30 years as the trauma that results from campus sexual assault is considered prohibitive to accessing education. Yet, students may not be the only parties harmed when sexual violence is…

Sexual violence on college and university campuses is a significant public health concern for educators in the context of postsecondary institutions across the United States. One of the populations on college campuses most at-risk of being victimized by sexual assault is women within a sorority (Mohler-Kuo et al., 2004). Partly in response to…

The goal of this qualitative case study was to determine what institutional processes and practices have been developed in relationship to mass shootings and gun violence, as well as how mass shootings in educational settings impact the way a campus responds and prepares a safety plan. Through speaking with threat assessment team members, student…

Sexual violence is one of the most serious issues on college and university campuses today. It is estimated that approximately one in five college women experiences sexual assault in their lifetime, and sexual assault has appeared on the AASCU's list of top ten issues in higher education almost every year for the last decade. However,…

This qualitative, action research study explored how practitioners' understanding of the academic impacts of sexual violence on female college students transformed. The professional development innovation called "SAAIT: Sexual Assault Academic Intervention Training" was designed using the theoretical framework of Transformative Learning…

This dissertation adds to the economic study of gun and marijuana laws. Chapter 1 studies the impact of stand your ground laws (SYGs) on traffic fatalities. Chapter 2 investigates the effects of campus concealed carry laws (CCCs) on higher education outcomes. Chapter 3 looks at the impact of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on youth crimes. The first…

There is a national problem with campus safety (CS) at universities and colleges in the United States. Research on this topic has primary focused on the perceptions of faculty, staff, and administrators about CS, while the research including the perceptions of students is largely absent. It is important to investigate students' perceptions of CS…

A series of highly publicized off-campus acts of racial violence between February and September 2020 ignited a national reckoning on race, racism, anti-Black racism, and the role of higher education in systemic discrimination. In response, a number of college and university leaders published public statements attempting to address anti-Black…

With regard to sexual violence prevention and response programming and education, what are the differences between a campus receiving U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women Campus Grant funding and a campus that is not receiving funding? This exploratory case study provides insight about sexual violence prevention education at…